Tuscarora board approves fire dept. contract

Thursday

Oct 3, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By Kortny Hahn

The Tuscarora Township board approved a new contract with the Tuscarora Township Fire Department at its meeting Tuesday night.
With the new contract, there is a three-quarters millage, which would be levied on the taxable value of real property only, according to board trustee Craig Waldron, rather than the half mill of the old contract, which was based on the SEV, state equalized value, and on personal and real property.
The new millage rate will generate a medium amount of revenue, which falls between the peak amount in 2007 and the low level, which was realized last year, Waldron said. The peak amount was approximately $165,000 and the low was around $139,000.
He explained that there won’t be major fluctuations in revenue by basing the levy on real property only versus the SEV.
“Our regulations keep going up, our costs keep going up. We figured we had to make a change,” Waldron said.
This change comes because for more than 40 years, the millage based on the SEV and real and personal was stable and covered and the expenses. The fire department was able to pay for trucks up front as well as any other costs incurred. It was also able to put money away for future expenses.
However, in the last five years, the situation has reversed, according to Waldron. Costs for the department have increased over the last several years, stemming from an additional number of runs and the need for newer equipment, while the revenue for the department has declined with the economy’s downturn.
Scott Swanson expressed his support of the millage for the fire department and asked Waldron for figures on how much of a difference there would be in the millage.
“This is actually less millage than we assessed a couple years ago,” Waldron responded.
The fire department recently expanded its building and remodeled inside to create a more hospitable place for the firefighters when returning from a run. The renovations included remodeling the bathrooms and kitchen, along with a new television and sound system that was donated to the station from the family of a former firefighter.
“We’re hoping that keeps the guys around,” Waldron said.
The fire department is 100 percent voluntary; the members do not get paid each time they go on a run. According to Waldron, the department is one of the only ones around the area that operates under those terms.
John Wallace, a former fire chief some 40 years ago, said Tuscarora Township was the best fire department in the county. He commented that it was exceptional that it was all done voluntarily by the firemen.
“And it’s still the best one in the county,” Wallace said.
The board voted unanimously to approve the new contract, with Waldron abstaining from the vote.